Thursday, March 3, 2011

Welcome to the blog tour of Amy Ellis' new pattern book Modern Basics. I feel honored to be part of the official blog tour and I'm so excited to share this book! As a long time blog (Amy's Creative Side) reader, I've known Amy was working hard on this book and I couldn't wait to get a look at it. I can honestly say that it met, if not exceeded, all of my expectations. I think it's sometimes difficult for me to find a quilt pattern book with more than one or two patterns that I want to try. Not the case with this book.

Amy has done a fantastic job creating patterns that are visually challenging, but shows how they can easily be assembled. All 14 projects are beautiful. These are three of my favorites.

This is a perfect book for beginners too. Many very simple projects with a lot of visual impact. The instructions are very clear and there are different sizing options.

The thing I love most about Amy though, is her encouragement of anyone who:

wants to start quilting but doesn't know how

anyone who stresses about picking fabric and colors

anyone with a handful of small "helpers" around or

anyone who feels they have too little time and space to take on a quilting hobby.

Modern Basics is available at Amazon or at your favorite local fabric store, but Amy is giving away a signed copy to one of you! For your chance to win a copy leave a comment. Please be sure to leave an email address so I can give you the good news if your name is randomly selected.

And just to increase your chances of winning you can visit these other stops on the book tour:

I inherited a stack of traditional quilt block books from my great aunt who was a high school home-ec teacher for over 40 years. They've been my staple for ideas and techniques as I learn to sew and quilt.

Today I bought a new Bernina, and learned a few new modern methods. Amy's book Modern Basics would make a great companion as I gain new skills.

You're right about wanting to make every quilt in the book! Every quilt I've seen so far in the blog hop has been one I have wanted to make! Thank you so much for the chance to win this super awesome book.

After seeing the book on the different blogs, it's amazing how many wonderful ideas small book can contain. I'm in love with “Modern Maze.” (this quilt is made with just five fabrics), and I want to have this addition in my library. Please let me win it! If not, I know I'll be ordering it. And fabric. And notions. And FQs. And VISA will be so happy. But hubby won't. dmj53(at)hotmail(dot)com

I would be "TICKLED SCRAPLESS"... To win a copy of your book... I love the tease of photo's you have shown us and would love to make my daughter a new quilt for her room. Thank you for sharing with us. :)

I would love to win a copy of this book so please enter me. Today I saw the Hope Valley quilt -- I have some HV and afraid to cut into the fabric -- now I see a pattern that can use. Thanks to you both for the blog tour stop and giveaway of Modern Basics.

how exciting!! I follow your blog from time to time (when I actually have the time!) & love that you get to blog tour Amy's new book. I've wanted to learn quilting but I always put off by the many "vintage" or "country" looking leaflets and books on quilting. This looks like a great book with a fresh, modern approach to quilting. LOVE IT! ♥

i would love to win this book! on a side note... i used your fat quarter bag tut last night for a mutual activity with my beehives. it was a smash hit and the girls all went home with a super adorable "scripture bag"! we had so much fun so thanks!!!

I'm like you, books usually have only one pattern in them I want to make, and I hate to buy a book for only one pattern (but do sometimes). The three you showed are beautiful, if I don't win a copy of the book I will have to buy it. Thanks for the chance to win.

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